Compare towns
Guilford vs Putney vs Ripton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Guilford | Putney | Ripton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461 |
2,622Highest |
508Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827Highest 16% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.